Cjrademaker Report post Posted February 12, 2015 Hello, I have always been a hand stitcher, but I know an upholsterer who has two leather sewing machines he is looking to get rid of, a Singer 211W that will need to be converted from neumatic to electric before I could use it and a singer 511W that is already on electric. I currently know nothing about sewing machines. I am told both are in fine shape, he just needed something different. I work primarily in vegetable tanned leather. If one of those machines could pull it off I would love to sew belts, wallets, maybe some bags one day.It turns out information on this kind of machine is not easy to find, if someone here has some, I would greatly appreciate the insite. Or if you need more information to know for sure, let me know that as well. In short, could a singer 211w or a 511w handle heavy vegtan? lighter vegtan?Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwight Report post Posted February 12, 2015 I have a 111W155, . . . sews a full 3 layers of 6/7 with no trouble. Make sure of the full model number of the machine, . . . there is info out there for just about all of them, . . . you should be able to turn it in just a few minutes. May God bless, Dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jlprice0775 Report post Posted February 17, 2015 @Dwight is that an older model 111w155 or newer? I am still definitely a hobbyist, but I am absolutely looking for a much faster way to do the little sewing that I do. I just made a hairdressers holster for my girlfriend and I spent hours and hours sewing what it would have taken me about 10 min to sew with a machine. I just don't do enough sewing to justify spending 1500 bucks on a machine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwight Report post Posted February 17, 2015 @Dwight is that an older model 111w155 or newer? I am still definitely a hobbyist, but I am absolutely looking for a much faster way to do the little sewing that I do. I just made a hairdressers holster for my girlfriend and I spent hours and hours sewing what it would have taken me about 10 min to sew with a machine. I just don't do enough sewing to justify spending 1500 bucks on a machine. Yes, . . . and I would not bet that it isn't older than I am (70), . . . If you have access to one, go to a Brother sewing machine dealer, . . . tell him you want to look at an LS1717 or it's equivalent. I have one I paid a whole $25 for (from a lady who bought it at a hard sale), . . . I have sewn chaps with it, . . . several layers of thick canvas an leather combinations, . . . and I believe right now I have a # 18 needle in it, . . . sewing JoAnn's upholstery thread, . . . It is one tough little plastic machine. There is one on Ebay that is an LS2020 for about $40, . . . and the 1717 looks identical to it. There probably is a difference, . . . I just don't know what it is. Take a sewing example to the Brother dealer, . . . have him try sewing it for you, . . . you might be surprized to find it works. I know I was surprized as all get out with this little plastic wonder I have, . . . May God bless, Dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cjrademaker Report post Posted February 18, 2015 So I have tracked down the rest of the numbers they are a singer 211w145 and a singer 511w145. I will be looking into them on my own, but if anybody with experience with either machine feels like giving me their opinion on them I sure would appreciate it. Thanks for the help so far. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
